 In 1953, the Telco colony in Jamshedpur was inaugurated. The housing scheme which was estimated to cost Rs.1.25 crores against the subscribed Rs.5.5 crores capital of the Company was testimony to the extent to which Telco was prepared to meet its employees’ welfare needs.
- If the country needed any proof of the capabilities of the Tata Mercedes Benz trucks launched in 1954, it was provided by an event in 1955 itself. The Alliance Nationale de Tourisme organized a motor rally from Geneva to Bombay in which 3 Tata Mercedes-Benz vehicles participated. While almost every other participating vehicle had to undergo repairs en route, the Star traversed the 7700 miles through eleven countries without any trouble whatsoever.
- When the new Telco plant was being set up in Pune, the first buildings to be constructed were for the training and housing of the apprentices. A World Bank Report on Telco issued in 1973 stated: ‘The Company’s training programmes are among the best in the world considering scope, recruitment and facilities.’
- At the first India International Trade Fair at New Delhi in 1979, one of the star attractions was ‘a four-wheeler to go anywhere’. In a feature on the Trade Fair, All India Radio referring to this Telco vehicle said:
‘To demonstrate the power and maneuverability of the 9500 kg desert operation vehicle, the man at the wheel drives it down the steps expertly to the ground, takes a turn, changes gear and as the engine roars, he slowly but surely climbs up the steep steps to park at the top. Thunderous claps and cheers from the thrilled spectators greet the driver. Probably they all think it is a stunt show to entertain them. But standing aloof and appreciating well the value of the vehicle are four Arab visitors. They continue to linger on though others disperse. They want to inspect the vehicle at close quarters and are eager to know more about the technical details.’
- At the time of Telco’s partnership with Daimler-Benz, the Indian Standards Institute was in its infancy. As the first step towards ancillary development, Telco had to make available to the available manufacturers over 2000 engineering standards of Daimler Benz. The standards then released paved the way for the evolution of the IS standards applicable to the automobile industry today
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